Joyce: $1 million Milton roadwork grant is coming

State Sen. Brian Joyce says Milton remainson track to receive a $1 million street-improvement grant that had been in doubt after an unexpected state financial review.

Neal Simpson

State Sen. Brian Joyce says Milton remains on track to receive a $1 million street-improvement grant that had been in doubt after an unexpected state financial review.

Joyce said Monday that state officials had assured him that the town’s MassWorks Infrastructure Project grant, expected to pay for a range of improvements on Central Avenue, was not going away. The grant, which was awarded in late 2012, has been delayed by a review of capital projects by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance.

“I understand that the administration wants to ensure fiscal responsibility, and I’m thankful that they understood that a delay would have disastrous consequences for Milton’s continued improvement,” Joyce said in a statement.

It’s not clear whether any other MassWorks grants have been affected by the state review. The Milton project and 25 others were awarded a total of $38 million last November, but some of the projects have already broken ground. They include the reconstruction of “surfside” Nantasket Avenue in Hull, which is expected to cost about $2 million.

Emily Fitzmaurice, a spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, was unable to say whether any other MassWorks grants were on hold because of the review, despite repeated requests last week.

Alex Zaroulis, a spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, said the financial review requested by the agency was routine and not specific to the MassWorks program.

“It’s not an unusual thing at all,” she said. “We’re constantly reviewing projects to make sure we’re on time, on budget and within the scope of our capital plans.”

The Milton project will include new street lights, curbs and improvements meant to make it easier for pedestrians to walk along Central Avenue. The town also expects to use the money to reconstruct High Street and build a small park near the Central Avenue trolley stop.

Neal Simpson may be reached at nesimpson@ledger.com or follow him on Twitter @NSimpson_Ledger.